vowed to be a “pro-business” leader who would work hand-in-hand with private enterprise to expand the overall economy, but one of his first moves is to try to end a $2.1 billion rail network privatisation contract signed by the now-vanquished Marshall government.
“We won’t be acting recklessly, we will be prudent. We will be delivering on our policy commitment,” he said of the push to end the contract with Keolis Downer, a joint venture between French transport group Keolis and Australia’s Downer which runs public transport services in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia. Rail unions have been opposed to the privatisation from the outset.
Mr Malinauskas said his resounding win showed voters do respond to a large policy agenda and big ideas, where he has pledged $1.15 billion on health and will return the Adelaide 500 Supercars race to the city streets. He said oppositions don’t have to pursue “small target” strategies. “The federal election will be fought on federal issues and what I know is that Anthony Albanese is not Peter Malinauskas, he is not any of the other premiers, he is not Annastacia Palaszczuk,” he said.
Mr Malinauskas said the Hawke government was the best in Australia’s history. “To the extent that I can replicate that, that is something I would like to do.Mr Malinauskas, who is a former boss of the retail workers union in SA who became Labor leader in 2018, said he would work collaboratively with whoever was in power at a federal level, but would stand up for SA’s interests.
Mr Malinauskas intends spending $1.15 billion on the health system after achieving substantial cut-through in a campaign centred on the problem of ambulance ramping.
Wants to tear up a privatisation agreements and use tax payer funds to build a risky hydrogen venture in Whyalla… doesn’t sound very pro business to me 🤔
Yes but that was Labor’s pledge. Tear up the privatisation of the rail network. Why would he turn his back on his citizens now that they just voted him in? Besides, the private business that owns the network is a v big corporation. I’m sure they have enough contracts elsewhere.